Cary-Ann Thomas

Cary-Ann Thomas supports the Farm Production and Conservation Business Center’s acquisition mission within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, managing procurement activities critical to advancing land conservation, soil health initiatives, and rural resource planning. Though her official title is not listed, her role centers on executing technical service contracts that enable field-level conservation programs, land easement restoration, and data-driven agricultural decision-making. She routinely handles complex acquisitions for engineering, environmental consulting, and geospatial analysis services, ensuring alignment with USDA’s mission to sustain agricultural productivity through science-based conservation practices. Thomas maintains consistent working relationships with a core group of contractors including PROJECTELLA LLC, HOMESTEAD SERVICES, LLC, and JANIE B LLC, all of which provide specialized technical and operational support for conservation infrastructure projects. Her procurement patterns reflect a preference for established vendors with demonstrated expertise in environmental compliance, land management systems, and agricultural data platforms. These partnerships are characterized by repeat engagement, suggesting a focus on reliability, technical proficiency, and mission alignment over competitive bidding alone. Her contracting approach prioritizes broad market access, with approximately two-thirds of awards issued under open competition and one-third designated as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. While she does not routinely utilize 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB set-asides, her consistent use of small business set-asides reflects a deliberate commitment to fostering competition among qualified small firms capable of delivering specialized conservation services. Despite the agency’s conservation mission, Thomas’s portfolio is exclusively classified under NAICS 336211—Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing—indicating a unique procurement focus on custom-built or modified vehicles and equipment used in field conservation operations, such as soil sampling rigs, conservation vehicle platforms, or specialized transport systems for land management tools. This technical specialization underscores her expertise in procuring niche, mission-critical equipment that bridges agricultural needs with engineered solutions.